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tags: #physics #relativity #hub-note

Relativity, developed by Albert Einstein, is a cornerstone of modern physics that fundamentally altered our understanding of space, time, gravity, and the universe. It is divided into two main theories: Special Relativity and General Relativity.

This hub connects the core concepts of Einstein's theories:

• Principle of Relativity: The foundational idea that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers.
• Time Dilation: The counter-intuitive effect where time can pass at different rates for different observers.
• Length Contraction: The effect where the length of an object is measured to be shorter when it is moving relative to an observer.
• Principle of Equivalence: The deep connection between gravity and acceleration, which serves as the bridge from Special to General Relativity.
• Spacetime Curvature: The central concept of General Relativity, where gravity is not a force but a manifestation of the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy.
• Cosmological Constant and Dark Energy: An extension of Einstein's theories to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe.

Reference

Coursera, "Question Reality: Matter"